[Archport] History unfolds in the South

["Alexandre Monteiro" <no.arame@gmail.com>]

http://www.republikein.com.na/politiek-en-nasionale/geskiedenis-ontvou-in-die-suide.73515.php

Republikein, 23/09/2008

History unfolds in the South

Under picture:   The project leader for the salvage of the historical
ship wreck in Oranjemund, dr. Bruno Werz, on the site about 10 km
north of Oranjemund and 7 meters under sea level.  Remains of the
wreck can be seen in the background as well as the high wall built by
Namdeb to dry the mining area.  The find at Oranjemund of a ship wreck
from the 16th century is the biggest and most important international
find since the finds in the Egyptian pyramids.  This is the view of a
team of local and international experts in the fields of history and
archaeology who are currently in the mining town as part of the
salvaging operation.

During the first presentation of the wreck to local and international
media yesterday afternoon, it was stated that the wreck definitely
didn't belong to the Portuguese explorer, Bartolomeu Dias.

Unlike Dias' caravel which was used in the late 15th century on the
route from Europe to Asia, the wreck at Oranjemund is a [karaak?]
which was only used on existing commerce routes.  In stead of carrying
up to the normal 100 tons, this ship was able to carry up to 300 tons.

"And the ship on its route from Portugal to India was loaded to
capacity", said the excavation leader, dr. Bruno Werz at the site.
There is also proof that the youngest gold coins which was found at
the ship, were already produced in October 1525, while Dias' ship was
already destroyed in the Atlantic Ocean 25 years before this date.

The identity of the ship, its captain and crew will now only be
determined after months or years of scientific tests.  The cargo of
the wreck which was found on 1 April by a heavy vehicle operator of
Namdeb, mr. Kapanda Shatika, in the diamond area U60X, was also
revealed for the first time to the media yesterday.

The exception is that all coins and other valuables were removed and
are now kept in the safes of the Bank of Namibia in Windhoek.  The
rest of the cargo which consists of tons of gold, silver, tin, ivory
and metal until now unidentified, are kept in stores of the mine in
the desert area of Uubvlei.

Dr. Werz and his colleague who was the first archaeologist to have a
look at the ship, dr. Dieter Noli of Cape Town, yesterday said that
the copper balls found on board had the trademark (Fugger Trident) of
an influential German family.  The copper balls belonged to the Fugger
bankers family of Habsburg who had a huge trading network between
Europe, Africa and the East.

It was the same Fugger-family who, together with their Italian
partners in the early 16th century, borrowed money to European royalty
and were even involved with the financing of the campaign of Charles V
to be appointed as Holy Roman Emperor of France in 1511 and 1519.

Apart from the metals and precious metals as well as more than 2000
coins of gold, silver and copper on board the ship, the excavation
team also found a lot of personal items which even included a set of
Roman Catholic rosary beads which belonged to a sailor.

A cabinet filled with unused swords was also found this week and will
be removed from the site shortly.  The permanent secretary of Youth,
National Service, Sport and Culture, dr. Peingeondjabi Shipoh, and the
head of the archaeological team, dr. Webber Ndoro, also gave the
assurance yesterday that the treasure ship and its contents will be
kept by the Oranjemund and southern Karas-region.

An exhibition of the wreck and its treasures is even planned for
Oranjemund and thereafter for Windhoek, and finally it will be moved
to a permanent museum which is planned for Oranjemund.

Christo Retief – Oranjemund.